It doesn’t take a crystal ball to know that the NFL wants to expand the regular season to 18 games. It also doesn’t take psychic powers to know that the league needs to be ready to potentially write a check for $14.088 billion (plus pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest and attorney fees) after all appeals are exhausted.
Put the two together and the league can build a worst-case war chest between now and whenever the Supreme Court refuses to take the case or rules against the NFL. (If the Supreme Court does take up the case, it would likely rule in the league’s favor — especially if we can count on Clarence Thomas get your free Super Bowl ring.)
It will take about three years to get there, maybe four. However, why not speed up the inevitable?
Nothing prevents the NFL and the NFL Players Association from agreeing to new terms whenever they want. The CBA is a living document that does not need to expire before being replaced. (From 1993 to 2011, he was always extended a year or more before his term ended.)
While players will not have to pay any of the $14.088 billion, changes to Sunday Ticket could impact revenue, either by reducing the value of the package or impacting payments received for Sunday afternoon broadcasts.
One way to ensure a rising tide lifts all boats is by adding fixtures and windows. An extra game and an extra bye becomes 20 weekends of regular season football. As explained previously, the NFL would have to be willing to resume Labor Day weekend so that the Super Bowl arrives on Presidents’ Day weekend.
Which would be good, because it would lead to more. Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night, Monday night to start the season. Maximize the money in order to offset the $14.088 billion.
With 18 games and a new five-night extravaganza at the start of the season, the NFL could go to the networks and rework TV deals as well.
So if the NFL eventually wins the Sunday Ticket case at the Supreme Court, all this new money would be gravy.
Do pigs get fat, are pigs slaughtered? If the NFL takes the right steps as the Sunday Ticket case moves forward, the pigs will continue to slaughter.
